from Reading Musical Foundation
The Reading Musical Foundation, WCR Center for the Arts, and Dave Kline Productions are proud to present Guitar-A Rama 2024! Join us for this free event on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the WCR Center for the Arts in Reading. Guitar-A-Rama kicks off with a workshop and jam session at 1:30 p.m., followed by a three-hour show starting at 2:30 p.m. The lineup features: The Quarantined Quartet, Josh Taylor, and Dave Kline & The Gypsy Jazz-Blues Fusion Band, blending the genres of rhumba, flamenco, blues, and gypsy jazz. Doors open at 1 p.m.
The Exceptional E Chord Workshop, led by Dave Kline, will focus on the use of this versatile chord, which is used across blues, jazz, and rumba flamenca styles. This session is designed for beginner and intermediate guitarists. Participants should familiarize themselves with the E, A, and B chords to maximize their experience with the workshop. To conclude the workshop, all attendees will participate in a group jam session featuring a rhumba piece composed by Dave Kline and Noah Gibney. During the “jam,” students can also expect to learn about soloing and improvisation skills.
“Anybody who has a desire to learn about [the guitar] can be well-served by the Guitar-a-Rama concept. This is our fifth year of Guitar-a-Rama. This will be our best one yet,” said Kline, who doubles as the executive producer of the event and performer/instructor. Guitar-a-Rama was originally included in the Berks Country Fest, also inspired and developed by Kline.
Following the workshop there will be a concert. The concert will feature Dave Kline’s Gypsy-Jazz Fusion Band with musicians Josh Taylor, Ken Gehret, Chris Heslop, Trey LaRue, and Mike Nikolidakis. In addition to Kline’s band, husband and wife duo Jason and Elisa Hochman, will be returning to Guitar-A-Rama, this time with their sons, Joseph and Noah, as the Quarantined Quartet.
The Quarantined Quartet, from Brooklyn, NY, found inspiration to form during the COVID-19 pandemic. This talented family band has taken the internet by storm with their fusion of Spanish, classical, flamenco, and acoustic guitar styles. Together, they have built a massive online following. “It helps our family just bond together and stay strong,” said Jason. Jason and Elysa, who began playing guitar in their early teens, eventually formed the duo “Jay & Lee Rumba Flamenca” and founded the New York Guitar Academy, teaching Spanish and classical guitar across New York City. When the pandemic hit in 2020, their music school closed, and all their performances were canceled. Suddenly faced with more time at home, the Hochmans decided to start playing together as a family. “We were always training [Joseph and Noah] to play guitar since age three,” Jason shared. “But the quarantine phase of the pandemic is when we got the idea to start a family band.”
They named themselves the Quarantined Quartet and began sharing videos on Instagram. The Hochamn family challenged themselves by posting daily videos to become more proficient at their instruments and also gain a larger social media presence. Initially, their page only had a couple of followers, but their dedication paid off as their content began reaching a global audience. Four years and over 1,600 videos later, they have more than a million followers on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook and still continue to post daily.
Their first full-length album, Strumming the Earth, was released on Oct. 25 of this year and is available on all streaming platforms. The album features nine original compositions and three covers, capturing the essence of their family journey and musical growth. Sometimes recording studios layouts can cause barriers in feeling like an authentic and live recording; the Hochman’s were able to find a solution. They recorded their tracks in individual isolation booths, but a studio window allowed them to see each other and stay connected during the sessions.
“It was cool because in the recording studio, we could all see each other, even though we were in separate rooms,” said Jason, adding, “It made the process feel more like a performance together. The family recorded all of the tracks in a single day, followed by additional days of editing, mixing, and mastering to perfect each song. “It took four years, but now that we’ve got our feet wet, we’re ready to dive in again,” said Elysa.
When asked about advice for aspiring musicians looking to build an online community, the Hochmans emphasized a need for consistency and authenticity. “Keep going no matter what the results are,” Elysa advised. They also highlighted the importance of high-quality production, especially in lighting and sound, to capture viewers’ attention. “Make sure the first five seconds of your video are intriguing,” Jason recommended, adding that live performances can boost engagement.
The Quarantined Quartet has performed at iconic venues like Lincoln Center and the US Open Finals, as well as festivals, celebrity events, and on TV shows such as NBC New York and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Along with traditional flamenco and Spanish techniques, the group also incorporates impressive tricks inspired by rock icons, such as playing the guitar behind their backs, which has become a signature style for the young musicians.
Jason and Elysa’s third appearance at Guitar-A-Rama in November 2024 marks a full-circle moment, showing how much they’ve grown since their first performance at the event. “We’re excited to bring the full group this time,” Jason said. “It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come as a family band.”
Guitar-A-Rama 2024 presented by Reading Musical Foundation, Dave Kline Productions, and WCR Center for the Arts, truly is a must-see event. While the event is free, it is required to reserve a seat using this link: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/dave-kline-productions-1.
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Source: bctv
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